Layout

I plan to have the entire Durham and Southern mainline from Durham to Dunn, with possible branch to Erwin. It will also include the Norfolk & Southern Fayetteville branch (aka The Raleigh and Cape Fear Railway chartered in 1898 until 1911 when it merged into the Norfolk and Southern). The NS had a junction with the D&S in Varina (now Fuquay-Varina) and the branch continued down to Fayetteville. Time frame is set for late summer 1973 (when it was time to pick the tobacco).

Layout room is set to an L-shape that is 21'-8" x 12'-6" on it's longest sides. Each square represents 1 foot. Primarily a bridge route between Durham, Apex & Dunn, hopefully making use of LDEs (Layout Design Elements, a term coined by Tony Koester).

LDEs to incorporate
Latest track plan

Progress:

October 18, 2011 - I didn't like how the peninsula benchwork came out at an angle, so I straightened it while keeping the trackwork the same. I had some more printouts made for Dunn, Fuquay-Varina and north Apex. I decided I will start the mainline in Dunn and work my way up to Apex, then to Durham. Need to get some more 2" foamboard.
August 30th, 2011 version, click on it for larger image:

July 11, 2011 - Spring has passed and that means no more yardwork (well, now it's too hot to work outside save the lawnmowing). Got a new position at work a few months ago and it has been taking up all my time. In between all this was Graham's "summer" break in June (he's in year-round school). I did manage to buy some doors and throw them up. I also built the peninsula in the middle. Latest photo.

January 18, 2011 - I've reorganized this so that the older posts are now at the bottom, with recent stuff up top. I've attached a few hollow-core doors (bought at the local Habitat for Humanity ReStore for $5 each) and put some buildings up for perspective. Now I need to put some insulated foamboard and get some track plans printed out.

June 2010 - I wasn't very happy with both of these track plan versions (v.1 and v.2) because they didn't allow an engineer to follow their train very well once they get to Apex.

I got to version 3, but I felt that I was getting small aisle widths and so I kinda hit "writer's block" and took some time off for a few months, plus work had me going out of town a lot amongst other springtime activities. Needing to find a distraction from summertime yard work, I hope to pick back up again and finalize this drafting mode.

Sept. 10th version, click on it for larger image:

June 2010 - Version 4: click on it to view larger image

Nov. 2009 - Version 3:

Feb. 2009: Version 2 (with Upper and Lower levels):

Aug. 2008 - Version 1:

Here is a photo showing the stairs with my son.